Somethings wrong...........

[Tater77]

Does anyone sit in Church in a bit of a daze and just think to yourself "Somethings wrong here, somethings just not right about this anymore" ?

Here for a while now I cant shake that feeling. No matter what Church I go to its still the same. I hear sermons and lessons that are wildly out of sorts, but I still here good ones. I see pews filled with fake people, but I still see that true Body of Christ. But I guess if we could be perfect, Christ wouldnt have had to die for us then.

I almost feel like the Pharisees of old are taking over again. I see a brand of self serving righteousness with a list of do's and don'ts. Don't do this, don't do that, just don't don't don't. There is a list of do's but they change at the whim of the Pastor. I see this but the Bible clearly states that we have righteousness before God through Jesus Christ and only Him. Not because of anything we did, but because of what Christ did for us.

I am told of the "high cost of discipleship", but I can't see that. What cost is this, Christ paid it all remember. So what is there a dividend left off the tab? Did'nt pay the tip? The Bible states that Christs finished work was perfect and still so to this day and will remain so for all time. So I fail to see what I have left to "pay" for. Discipleship has cost me a lot of money. But I have gained riches beyond measure. I lost out on alot of activities because I was at Church or participating in missions, but I wouldnt trade it for the world. I gladly labor for God.

So where is this cost they speak of?

The list goes on. I will post more if the thread lives. Out of time for now so I'll get off the soapbox and give someone else a turn.

 

[HAMel]

Does anyone sit in Church in a bit of a daze and just think to yourself "Somethings wrong here, somethings just not right about this anymore" ?

Yep. Been there and done that.

You know..., the Lord tells us that His House shall be a house of prayer.

Not a house of preaching; or a house of singing; or a house of Sunday School; or a house of missions; or a gathering place..., but a House of Prayer.

Is it any wonder that way too many folks sit in the pews and doze off mentally for an hour each Sunday Morning?

Seems to me that with a mature and serious approach to our Prayer Life the Lord would provide all those extra curriculum activities along with the motivation to make 'em happen, but because we don't, he won't.

Our Lord loves to hear us praise Him.

 

[annsni]

I have to say that doing this new church campus has grown me in ways that being at our home church would never have done!! Prayer is a central part of our time at church and our entire team has had to be stretched to do things we aren't normally comfortable with but because of necessity, we've done it. It's been wonderful to see God's hand at work out there and in this new situation we have, even more so (we are struggling through a disagreement in methods with our senior pastor). God is good.

 

[Gina B]

Things definitely aren't improving on the spiritual front, but that's plain old scripture.

I went way off for a bit a number of years ago and even doubted my belief, withdrew from the church community, and thought I'd be okay on my own. Didn't realize how far downhill I was sliding for a while...sneaks up on ya!

New perspectives helped though. I don't let myself hold humans up as role models for Christianity because we all fail too often. Respecting other believers is another matter, along with realizing that my shortcomings are probably just as repugnant to them and Christ as mine are to others and Christ.

But yeah. Looking back, that was a horrible time. I couldn't feel the Holy Spirit even though I prayed and begged, then later I just didn't much care. But...it was amazing when things went back to right so I think that was meant to be. I definitely appreciated salvation and Christian living a lot more afterward and it made me realize that it isn't okay to stay at one level, even if I'm not doing anything "wrong." I still need to keep stretching and growing and reaching and not feel all holy just because I manage to stay somewhere within the safe zone.

 

[webdog]

To the OP...do you serve in the church, or do you just attend? Involvement is the key. Our spiritual gifts are there for a reason.

 

[Tater77]

Double post. Stupid iPod

 

[Tater77]

To the OP...do you serve in the church, or do you just attend? Involvement is the key. Our spiritual gifts are there for a reason.

I serve but still feel so empty. I am gifted as a teacher but I find myself running the A/V during service. The church I helped as a founding member is crumbling. It's like the preacher tries to offend people sometimes. Everyone has left because they can't agree with him. He's my friend why he doesn't get to me I guess. He's honest and sincere , but very blunt and often abrasive. He's the worst off type of legalistic preacher. Because he thinks he's not legalistic. His interpretations are often highly based on rules. I need prayer in the worst way.

 

[glfredrick]

We were faced with a situation much like you describe. As an ordained pastor, and double grad of SBTS, I was limited to serving in really weird ways, like never... Pastor was aligning everyone with his rather Pelagian view, and I did not qualify.

We found another church and are SO blessed.

In your area, there are multitudes of churches with which to unite. Take the family and friends with you if need be!

 

[webdog]

I serve but still feel so empty. I am gifted as a teacher but I find myself running the A/V during service. The church I helped as a founding member is crumbling. It's like the preacher tries to offend people sometimes. Everyone has left because they can't agree with him. He's my friend why he doesn't get to me I guess. He's honest and sincere , but very blunt and often abrasive. He's the worst off type of legalistic preacher. Because he thinks he's not legalistic. I need prayer in the worst way.

Praying you find peace there, or God directs you where to go from here. From the little you have posted here, I would have to question if he should even be a pastor in the first place. That might be the major problem right there. There are many of those kind of pastors on this very sight...one sent me a PM basically saying he would meet me "any time, any where"...and not for prayer if you know what I mean.

 

[annsni]

I serve but still feel so empty. I am gifted as a teacher but I find myself running the A/V during service. The church I helped as a founding member is crumbling. It's like the preacher tries to offend people sometimes. Everyone has left because they can't agree with him. He's my friend why he doesn't get to me I guess. He's honest and sincere , but very blunt and often abrasive. He's the worst off type of legalistic preacher. Because he thinks he's not legalistic. I need prayer in the worst way.

It sounds like you are fighting the Spirit leading you to leave. You'll never be happy there unless the pastor starts listening to the Spirit and works on himself. I know no one is perfect but a pastor who has driven everyone away has an issue. I've been where you are. It's SOOOOO hard because in our heart we want to stay. But by you staying there, are you growing in the Lord, are you working for Him, are you pleasing Him? I think it really sounds like it's time for some serious prayer and asking for God's wisdom.

 

[Alive in Christ]

Maybe try a small vacation from church.

Dont go for 3 weeks or so. Stay home and watch TV ministries, visit some other churches, etc etc. You dont have to worry about "forsaking the assembling of yourselves together"...because you are not "forsaking" anything, you are just skipping a few services.

Then go back. You might have your enthusiasm restored, and you are impacted greatly by the teaching again.

If not...consider other options.

 

[HAMel]

Maybe try a small vacation from church.

Dont go for 3 weeks or so. Stay home and watch TV ministries, visit some other churches, etc etc. You dont have to worry about "forsaking the assembling of yourselves together"...because you are not "forsaking" anything, you are just skipping a few services.

Then go back. You might have your enthusiasm restored, and you are impacted greatly by the teaching again.

If not...consider other options.

Nothing wrong with this advice at all. I recently walked away from a church after nine years of membership. Stayed away for about three months and finally decided that was it and surrendered my membership.

It got to where it was a total burden to attend. Not because of the Pastor but because of the total and complete idleness of the members.

Now attending another church and totally energetic over the change.

 

[MamaCW]

If you ever find yourself in California, I'll invite you to my church! Its a great church, with loving people, and an amazing pastor & pastor's family..he preaches straight from the word and does not try to twist or change anything around. He's lovingly firm

 

[Tater77]

Thanks for the great advice everyone :smilewinkgrin: I don't think leaving will be a problem soon. As the Church is about to fold up. Theres no one left and we may not be able to pay the bills. The Pastor would literally have to give up his pay for a few months to pay the bills. No rent money, no more Church.

I am a Charter Member/ Teacher / Trustee with an emphasis on the last part. The other trustee left 6 months ago and my name is on the lease for the building as well as the bank account. I made a promise to God that I would stay till He makes me leave and I'm holding to it. But I seem to think the Lord is making it easier for me to move on when it folds up.

My Pastor is also my friend, which makes it harder. I knew him for years before the Church got started. He was Minister of Education at our last Church before he stepped on some Deacons toes and got voted out.

He was the Pastor of another start up about 4-5 years ago which ended up about the same way as things are going now. I recently talked with a lady from that ordeal and learned a lot. We came to the conclusion that the preacher has to much muchness for most people to handle. If you did'nt know him away from Church as were already friends, then he is difficult to handle.

 

[HAMel]

Tater77, there's an old joke about this guy who was picking cotton one hot afternoon and after a few hours of work he says,

"Lord, it sure is hot out today."

...a little while later he said,

"Lord, this row sure is long."

...he picked a bit more cotton and said,

"Lord, this bag sure is getting heavy."

...and after a bit he jumped straight up in the air and said,

"Praise the Lord I've been Called To Preach." :tongue3:

In real life there are men in the pulpit that just were not really called to preach. They might have been called for real, but to serve in a lesser role.

I don't think the Lord will bless over and above if his man isn't where he ought to be. Perhaps that's were your Pastor and friend is right now.

 

[HankD]

Does anyone sit in Church in a bit of a daze and just think to yourself "Somethings wrong here, somethings just not right about this anymore" ?

Here for a while now I cant shake that feeling. No matter what Church I go to its still the same. I hear sermons and lessons that are wildly out of sorts, but I still here good ones. I see pews filled with fake people, but I still see that true Body of Christ. But I guess if we could be perfect, Christ wouldnt have had to die for us then.

I almost feel like the Pharisees of old are taking over again. I see a brand of self serving righteousness with a list of do's and don'ts. Don't do this, don't do that, just don't don't don't. There is a list of do's but they change at the whim of the Pastor. I see this but the Bible clearly states that we have righteousness before God through Jesus Christ and only Him. Not because of anything we did, but because of what Christ did for us.

I am told of the "high cost of discipleship", but I can't see that. What cost is this, Christ paid it all remember. So what is there a dividend left off the tab? Did'nt pay the tip? The Bible states that Christs finished work was perfect and still so to this day and will remain so for all time. So I fail to see what I have left to "pay" for. Discipleship has cost me a lot of money. But I have gained riches beyond measure. I lost out on alot of activities because I was at Church or participating in missions, but I wouldnt trade it for the world. I gladly labor for God.

So where is this cost they speak of?

The list goes on. I will post more if the thread lives. Out of time for now so I'll get off the soapbox and give someone else a turn.

Tater, anyone who has this feeling is showing a sense of spirituality.
Scripture has some advise for the spiritual, one could expand the scope of this passage to the whole congregation:

Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Feed my sheep He said. You can help Tater.
Bottom-line: Prayer is something anyone of us can do and we don't need discipling to do this as the Spirit knows our infirmities and helps us to pray.
We do need to enter the holy place however as an act of the will.

Often, folks like to focus on the pastor. However he may be in pain as well over the condition of the church. Or he may just be unaware, it happens.

We don't blame the pastor (and I'm not saying you do BTW) for a literal drought but get on our knees and pray for rain.

We have an abundance of the word of God in America but we may need a shower of the hearing of the word of God. He can open our ears.

Feed my sheep, He said. Pray for the under-shephard who guides the flock through God's green pastures.

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

HankD

 

[Tater77]

There is some great advice here. Which is why I posted my problem also, so get advice from Godly people that have been there and done that. :godisgood:

I don't blame my Pastor with anything I don't know as fact. I know for a fact that many left because of disagreement with some of his more hardliner views, many of which I disagreed with but I just grinned and bore it. I've stood up for him for a while now, and now I find myself alone.

But I think your right HAMel , my Preacher is one of the most gifted musicians I have ever seen. And truly loves to play and even write praise and worship music. Maybe thats his real calling.

 

[HAMel]

Tater, we attended a church where the Pastor had been run off from every Church he'd been in. Not because he's a bad preacher or doesn't know the Word, but there was just something about him that absolutely did not translate to the membership. The Church he's at now hasn't grown one member in 15 years but he does have complete control over all aspects of that ministry and what few members they have are just lemmings.

He told once of having served with a World Wide Missionary Group (in their home office) but one day decided that "HE WANTED" to preach. So, he resigned his 'job' with this group and went to pastoring. Hence, every church he's ever been in..., ran him off.

Perhaps your current Pastor would consider throwing himself into the Music Ministry if someone would suggest it. If you approach him with a kind heart the Lord would do the rest. Don't be afraid to offer help here. Perhaps he just needs a little encouragement.